Throwback Thursday: Five Rider Podium at Quad City Downs (1997)
Larry Lawrence | February 17, 2022
Scott Parker Scored Victory On His Way to the 1997 AMA Grand National Championship
(Dave Hoenig photo)
In this week’s Throwback Thursday, we dial back the wayback machine 25 years to August of 1997 and set the destination to East Moline, Illinois and Quad City Downs. On that night Harley-Davidson’s Scott Parker took victory, one of his eight wins that season en route to his 1997 AMA Grand National Championship. What made the podium unique at Quad City, was the fact the promoter invited the top five finishers to attend the ceremonies. One of the promoters of the race was none other than the late great Grand National racer Davey Camlin. Camlin joked that he’d finish just off the podium so many times that season that he decided to include five riders at his race so he could say he earned a podium finish. Pictured on the podium are (l to r) Kevin Atherton (4th), Ricky Graham (2nd), Scott Parker (winner), Joe Kopp (3rd) and Camlin (5th). It may have been the only time in AMA Grand National history that five riders stood on the podium.
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